Even while I was preggo, I was already aware of the “social landscape of new motherhood.” It's been mentioned in parenting magazines, and has been the subject of many a 'chick-lit' books. And what is that exactly? In a nutshell, new moms will expect to find themselves thrown back into a high school-like hierarchy of social status and new territory akin to that of the dating scene. Still not making sense? Let’s start with labels. There is the "high-end mom" = mom who has the latest hot stroller, the cool diaper bag, the latest educational toy, etc.; there is the "granola/earth mom” = mom only into organic foods, clothing, toys, etc. Or you can be a “hot mom” = a mom who has bounced back into shape, still wearing fashionable clothing and can balance a cappuccino on one hand and pushing a pram with the other. We're talking mom cliques. There are the die-hard breastfeeders who shun the formula moms, and SAHMs vs. working moms. There are definitely new associations you end up making –like making sure you set up playdates with kids of the same background as yours, be friends with moms who have the same parenting style as you, etc. It may not be as blatant as some magazines describe it, but you'll definitely notice it.
I do see this to a certain extent whenever I’m in the city with the baby. In the Upper East Side, there is a surplus of moms and nannies pushing Bugaboos (a stroller starting at $700) and nothing else. I see them in cafes chatting with one another, looking cool and posh. In the Village, I see more eclectic-mom types like myself, and so on. In my little neighborhood though, it’s not as common –yet. Moms in my area come in all shapes, sizes, and colors that they don't fit a specific niche. (Also, I haven’t really met any other moms that I associate with on a regular basis aside from the moms I’ve met in daycare.) So I can’t really comment on the types of moms out there. Nonetheless, I think moms are always on the lookout for other moms that they can bond with. When I’m at the playground, I definitely scout around to see which mom I can chat up. Likewise, I’ve been approached by other moms who try to pick me up.
One time, I was at our local playground (conveniently located at the end of my block) when this woman starts to chat me up. She was Chinese, probably about 5-10 years older than me, and had an 10-month old baby.
Her: Oh hello. How old is your child?
Me: He’ll be 12 months in two weeks.
Her: Wow, he’s walking already! Victoria (gesture to child in swing), can’t walk yet. When did he start walking?
Me: A little before he was 11 months old. He’s still very wobbly (and as if to demonstrate, rockstar baby trips and falls).
Her: Are you home? Or do you work?
Me: Oh I work, I just got out of work a little early. How about you?
Her: I work too, and she’s in daycare.
Me: Oh me too.
Her: Which daycare?
Me: Oh he’s in X daycare on 10th st.
Her: Oh where is that? Do they have a lot of white kids in there?
Me: Uhm..yeah, it’s pretty mixed.
Her: How much do you pay a week? Is it expensive? Are you able to afford it easily? Etc..
At that point, I got kinda weirded out by her personal financial questions, so I bow out of the conversation and turn to Jakey by saying “oh do you want to get on the slides now? Come on let’s go…” Since then, I’ve seen the mom around but I don’t think she remembers talking to me. I always see her chatting up other parents though!
I myself haven’t had the guts to approach other moms other than commenting on how cute their kid is and doing small talk. I think it’s really hard find other moms your age that a) have a child close in age to your child; and b) have the same interests as you. I'm currently trying to 'pick up' the mom of this cute kiddo that rockstar baby plays with in daycare. I haven't had a conversation with her yet (since she does her drop off/pick up earlier than I do); but since she dresses her baby kinda punk-y like sometimes, I keep thinking we'll get along.
I really wish my friends and I had kids at around the same time. We'd have built-in playdates and we already know we get along. A close friend I have with kids moved to Georgia (thanks Trish!) But at least there's Antonion (my friend Sol's baby) --I think by the time rockstar baby hits two, they can actually start playing with each other and actually realize it (as opposed to just staring at each other).
Until then, I'm still on the prowl. I have yet to see another mom wearing Vans with skulls on them or a shirt with a band’s name on it. Is that too much to ask? Should I put out a personal ad?Labels: motherhood, musings/personal stories
I haven’t written about my RSB in a while, but I keep meaning to. I know most people won’t find this especially interesting, but as a mom, I feel compelled to write about his growth and development. It really is amazing to watch this tiny little creature grow into an actual person right before your eyes. So here goes:
- I love watching him eat a cracker. He holds it with his cute little hands and takes 2 or 3 delicate little nibbles –then he just starts chomping at it. So it’s really “nibble, nibble, nibble, chomp, and then shove-the-remaining-piece in my mouth.” Or if he doesn’t cram the rest in his mouth, he’ll throw it on the floor and then stomp on it. And then he laughs about it. Hilarious! Of course, the cleaning up of the crumbs is not hilarious. We say no to the stomping but he just finds that hilarious.
- RSB knows his shoes. He can tell his outside shoes from his indoor shoes, and has preferences for which shoes to put on. He will yell and put up a fight until you put on the shoes he wants. I just bought him the cutest kicks a week ago and he loves them. They are Geox sneakers in a blue, orange, cream combo and they’re meant for early walkers. Whenever he sees them, he’ll pick them up, bring ‘em to you, and indicate that he wants them. Sometimes he's even say "this! this!" If you try to put on a different pair, he’s continue to yell at you and put up a fuss. Ye gods. Shoe connoisseur? I am worried.
- RSB loves dogs. He has a little toy puppy that barks when you press its tummy. He’ll pick it up and give it to you and go “oof, oof” (or some variation therof) which indicates that he wants you to make the dog bark (he can’t do it on his own yet). He also loves videos of dogs we find on YouTube and will sit there and watch for a good 15 minutes. He’ll be actively pointing and making observations.
- RSB discovered he could walk backwards a few days ago. It’s a cool parlor trick, but he only does it when he wants to. He also loves to climb up the stairs (which is certainly a very dangerous hobby).
- RSB loves golf! Which is great for the hubs. RSB can be his caddy in a couple of years! Hahah... RSB was given a trio of toy golf clubs to play with and he always walks around with one clutched tightly in his hand. If you try to pry it off, he will get pissed off. He even falls asleep with a club in his hands. He also likes to hit golf balls around. So he's definitely a golfer in training.
- RSB is also fascinated by my guitar. Whenever I play, he'll grab the guitar pick from me and try to use it. But he always has a quizzical look on his face when he uses the pick and doesn't make a sound. I think he thinks that the sound comes from the pick and wonders why I can still play without it. He also likes to dance when I'm playing!
- RSB is a skinny little dude. I have tried to no avail to fatten him up, but it just isn’t happening. I am very worried about this despite the fact that his pediatrician says he’s healthy and growing normally. The doc keeps saying that it’s a matter of genetics and that he's following his own growth curve. She keeps saying "well you're not exactly a giant yourself, so you shouldn't really expect him to be." But then I tell her that I see tons of moms with chubby, tubby babies! WTF?! It’s gotten to the point that I feel I have done something wrong to make RSB such a small baby. Like maybe I should've breastfed him every hour on the hour, or gave him more formula if he so much as cried when he was younger. He’s at the 50th-75th percentile for height, thank goodness, but he’s consistently at the 5-10th % percentile for weight. The thing I don't get is that he has a good appetite. He eats a good breakfast, lunch, and dinner and some snacks in between. His favorite food is this dish I created: broccoli and cauliflower, cheese sauce, and tofu all blended together. He can eat a whole bowl of this. He also has about 15-20 ounces of milk, plus a can on Pediasure daily. And I also put tons of butter or olive oil in a lot of his meals. So what gives? He’s still a skinny dude and I’m still a worried mom. Gah! I don’t know why he’s not any chubbier. Although he does have my dad’s body type I suppose –small and skinny despite always eating and snacking. And like my doc says, babies come in all shapes and sizes and not to worry as long as he is healthy.
Well of course I count my blessings and I’m glad RSB is nice and healthy! He’s outgoing, sociable, annoying, whiny, cute, active, smart, whimsical, and all that and a bag of chips!
Labels: motherhood, rockstar baby
so apparently, i'm raising a vampire...
Rockstar baby bit two (2!) kids this past week in daycare. One boy and one girl (I guess he doesn't discriminate) within 2 days of each other. The kids were fine. The daycare director spoke to me about how he should be reprimanded at home and gave me an article as to why some kids bite. The article stated how some kids bite because they are either overstimulated/understimulated, angry, frustrated, etc...etc. It offers parents advice as to how to show their kids to express their emotions, yadda yadda yadda. But I'm like, hello! Rockstar baby is not even 13 months old yet. He's obviously still teething! I know we can help him control who and what he bites; we tell him "No!" when does something wrong (and sometimes, I even put him in a corner). But like I said, he's still very young and still doesn't fully grasp this whole "No!" concept. He understands we're not happy, but then he looks at us and starts giggling and then goes off his merry way. Either that or he gives you a hug and a slurpy kiss to make you forget that you're mad at him. Smart, huh?
Man, this is just the beginning of upcoming parenting woes....
Oh, and can I just say that within the first 2 weeks of starting daycare, rockstar baby was bit on the arm by some baby? I understand that babies are just being themselves and things happen, but maybe the daycare needs to be more vigilant in watching these kids, no?
behind the music
Have you seen those 'Behind the Music' VH1 shows where they do a short documentary of a band and how they split up/come together/reunite/etc? Well we had our own "Behind the Music" experience several weeks ago. After our last gig in late January, our bassist Matt walked out on us. He had some beef with our lead singer Jes (aka the band leader because she started the band). Basically, Jes's brother told Matt that he had a shitty personality, and the shit hit the fan. Matt was pissed, looked to Jes for some mediating, but Jes ignored it all. So Matt talked back, made other people angry, and then officially quit the band.
Well the Monday after that, Jes and I met up along with our drummer Cil. I told Jes that since we're looking for a new bassist, we might as well get one that had good vocals. Jes was silent and clearly did not like that idea. She said, "No, we're fine as it is." Then Jes started telling us that she'd like us to start practicing 2-3x a week and that we needed to get our act together. Cil and I said "No way! We're not practicing that much a week!" Jes pretty much said "Ok then, if can't do it, then there's no point for all of this." She then packed her shit up, and then left the studio just like that! Cue voiceover: And on February 19, Plastiq Passion broke up....
Cil and I were aghast. I mean, who walks out on people without talking about their problems? We're not in high school anymore, right? Bottom line: We were able to talk later on and all's well and good. But really, it felt like we were straight out of an episode of 'Behind the Music.'
And we're still looking for a bassist. Know anyone?Labels: motherhood, music, musings/personal stories, rockstar baby
I can't believe you're already a year old! It was a year ago today that you were born. It seems just like yesterday when dad and I brought you home from the hospital. You were such a tiny thing --like a little kitten complete with teeny mewing sounds. I remember being so scared during the drive home. We were carrying such precious cargo and I told dad to drive slower --even though he was only going 40 mph on the highway!
Watching you grow was and is amazing. Each day was totally different from the next and the first three months was like a blur! I remember putting you on your tummy at 2 weeks old and you surprised me by being able to hold your head up and move it from one side to another! I also remember your very first smile at 6 weeks old! And no, it wasn't gas! =) You were recognizing your surroundings! At three months, we were already propping you up everywhere and you liked being able to see the world around you! At four months, you started to sleep through the night (reassuring both dad and I that yes, we were going to sleep like normal people again).
During your fifth month, you were baptized! It was a sweet and lovely ceremony and you looked very happy in your baptismal gown. That month, we also started to feed you solids starting with cereal --you really liked it after getting used to it! Soon after, we gave you your first ever haircut (that you didn't enjoy!) By your sixth month you already seemed like your own little person! After this month, everything you did was like a blur! You sat up, started crawling, started pulling yourself up to standing position, and did everything independently! I can't even keep track what happened when!
But I do know this: It's been such an amazing experience just watching you grow and hitting all those milestones! Watching you take your first little steps before you turned 11 months was just so darn cool! Soon after that, you just started walking all over the place! Now, we can hardly remember the time when you couldn't even roll over!! Time really does fly like they all say! Before you know it, we'll be celebrating your 10th birthday!
Dad and I are just amazed with every little thing you learned to do and continue to learn to do! We love you so much and cannot imagine life without you. Even though we've only been parents for literally 365 days, we can hardly remember life without you, our rockstar baby. You've enriched us in so many ways, and words cannot express the love we feel for you! You are our blessing!
Happy First Birthday my love! I know you won't even be able to remember this day, but mom and dad will certainly remember it for you!
Happy First Birthday!
Rockstar baby - a year ago today
Rockstar baby - a year later!
More party pics to come...!
Labels: motherhood, rockstar baby
The good news is that rockstar baby is 99% recovered! Yehey! His poops are almost solid again (because you needed to know that) and he's eating (yes the BRAT diet of bananas, rice, apples, and toast without the toast part). The bad news is that the hubs and I got sick along with him! I woke up Saturday morning around 5 am and made a beeline for the bathroom. Here's some TMI: projectile vomit and poop as well! Ew, right? Basically the hubs and I fell ill. We had fevers and everything and it sucks trying to take care of a sick kid when you are sick yourself. Our own parents stopped by with some Gatorade, soup, and bananas for us. I don't care about being sick as long as the baby is better.
But we are pulling through. It's Monday; the hubs and I are home on the last leg of this damn stomach virus; and rockstar baby is running circles around us trying to get us to play with him! You should see him patting my head when I was lying on the couch shivering and trying to get the room to stop spinning. So cute!
Everyone is on the road to recovery!Labels: motherhood, rockstar baby
Did that catch your attention? Well the past 24 hours have been hellacious (is that a word?) Rockstar baby has a stomach virus and has been projectile vomiting and poo-ing for the past 24 hours. It all started last night at around 9:40-something in the evening when he woke up in a pool of his own vomit. Then it started to come out of the other end at around 2 am --once at the same time! Here's some stats from the past 24 hours and counting:
- 9: # of clothing changes he's had
- 10: # of times he vomited
- 0: # of bottles he's kept down
- 6: # of ounces of Pedialyte he's kept down
- 1: # of jars of food he's eaten
- 22: # of diapers I've changed (although at this point, I really think there's more since he poos and sharts every 30 minutes or so)
- 3: # of baths he's taken
- 2: # of times he got vomit on his hair
- 1: # of times he got vomit on my hair
- 4: # of times he got vomit on my clothes
- 3: # of times his crib sheets were changed
- 3: # of hours I've slept thus far (I'm beginning to have that crazed, super-energized feeling you get right before you're ready to snap)
- 4: # of consecutive hours he's slept
- 2: # of sick days I'll be taking because of this experience, possibly 3.
- 17: # number of pounds he currently weighs. He's lost about 2 pounds so far --in just 24 hours!
I feel so, so bad for my poor rockstar baby. He looks like some emaciated, Cambodian refugee awaiting adoption! I am not kidding. His little belly is now gone, and his ribs are sticking out. I hope he pulls out of this soon. I am not used to a sickly, crying rockstar baby. I feel so helpless for his situation, but unfortunately there is no magic pill for this virus. You just have to let it run its course. Having a sick baby is definitely one of the negatives of parenthood. I hate seeing him suffer.
Another major negative? Washing poop and vomit off clothes. And oh yeah. The lack of sleep.Labels: motherhood, rockstar baby
Step by Step: A Recap in 7 Steps
1) Rockstar baby took his first steps! We are so excited! He took two tentative steps on January 10th, and then over the weekend, he took a few more! The most he took over the weekend was about 6 steps and it's so cool to watch him do it. He stands on his tippy-toes with this cheerful, determined look on his face! I must say, there is nothing like watching your child grow up right in front of your eyes. Being a mom rocks! Here's a quick little video of rockstar baby (we'll replace it with a better one when we get a better shot!).
2) You know what else rocks? Entourage. I got hooked on this show last weekend when I TiVoed about 6 episodes. Adrian Grenier is the new hotness! I love this show. I love Ari. I love this show! Can't wait for the new season.
3) Celeb sighting: Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at OUR gig!! My band Plastiq Passion played at the Parkside Lounge this past Saturday. Of course, she didn't actually watch us play, but she was definitely having a drink there! Hehehe... we gave her our CD, but she didn't look too enthused. What can you do?
4) A special thank you shout-out to Ms. Pinayhekmi. Do you know what this lady did? She sent me a Starbucks gift card just because she knew it was something I wanted and needed! What a great and unexpected gift! Tin rocks! *Hugs* you are the best! You're going to be a wonderful momma!
5) Today, we also discovered that rockstar baby has three more teeth coming out! No wonder he's been biting my face and teething like crazy! He has 4 teeth out now (two on the bottom, two on top), and he's got three more starting to come down on the top! Craziness!
5) I'm thinking of changing the blog up a bit. I'm toying with the idea of moving to Wordpress --because I dig the fact that you can categorize your posts. I also want to make my entries zippier --that is to say, write straight from the hip, expletives and all. So be warned! This blog will soon be needing parental guidance!
6) My latest book review is up boys and girls! Please take a look HERE! Once in a Promised Land is excellent and I give it a 2 thumbs up (in Z formation ;).
And that's all (for now) folks!Labels: motherhood, rockstar baby
Confessions of a Bad Mom
It's official: I am the worst mom ever. Rockstar baby fell off his crib this morning and it's all my fault! For the past week, the hubs and I knew that he could already hoist himself up and hang on to his crib railing. We were already planning to lower his crib matress this weekend. This morning though, I placed him in his crib so I could get a few more minutes of sleep. Me, selfish mom, put *my* needs first. I got home late last night (bad mom was out gallivanting and didn't get home until 2 am), and then rockstar baby woke up around 3:45 am (which is not the norm). I had to give him a bottle to put him back to sleep. And then this morning, he woke up for the day at his usual wake-up time of 7 am. Still groggy, I had to wash his bottles and feed him. But afterwards, I wanted to snooze a little more, so instead of taking care of him like a good mom should, I put him back in his crib knowing full well that it was dangerous to leave him there!
Lo and behold. He fell. I heard a big, fat THUD and my heart sank. The inevitable happened. I rushed into his room and found him on the floor, on his back. He cried for about a minute and then was back to normal. But I felt so awful that I neglected him. Still feel awful. I called everyone I could think of: his doctor, my co-worker (who is a mom as well), my uncle (who is an othropedic surgeon), and my friend (whose husband is a resident). Then I brought him to a doctor who checked him over (thank God for Sunday hours)! Rockstar baby isn't the first baby to fall out his crib (or couch, or bed, or any surface a few feet off the ground for that matter) and pediatricians see these things all the time. But that doesn't make it any less painful for the parent. And I know this won't be the last of things that will break my heart.
Bottom line: rockstar baby should be fine. Should be. But that doesn't mean I'm not a bad mom. If I had just hauled my ass outta bed this morning, it would have never happened. My poor, poor, little guy! As a parent, you hope and pray that nothing bad ever happens to your children --but here I am, being the cause of my baby's pain. Okay, maybe I'm being a bit melodramatic, but I feel really bad. I'm so sorry my little bunny.
Labels: motherhood, rockstar baby
Slice of Life Part II
A typical morning in the life of back-at-work rockstar mom and rockstar baby (although most days, there is only one disaster at a time). Part I can be read here.
6.30 - Alarm rings. Hrmph.... Hit snooze. Go back to sleep.
6.41 - Am awakened by rockstar baby’s babbles and gurgles.
6.42 - Go to baby’s room and play with him. I change him and hand him over to the hubs.
6.46 - Hop into shower while the hubs prepares bottle.
6.55 - Get ready. Hm...should I put on my clothes on now or later? Wear robe while still getting ready? Hm.. decide to put on pants. Will finish dressing later.
7.06 - Take over the feeding. Rockstar baby is bouncy and giggling. Easily distracted. I tell him stories while I feed him.
7.25 - Baby finally finishes his food! Yay! I burp him over my shoulder.
7.26 - Rockstar baby takes a big burp. What follows next is a steady stream of throw-up. I let out a high-pitched squeal! In my head, I'm going fuck.fuck.fuck.fuck! I hold him at arms length as he continues to upchuck. Vomit is going down my back.
7.27 - I am a deer caught in headlights. It is endless. I'm never seen him throw up this much before, especially since he rarely spits up in the first place. Silky, warm vomit pools onto my lap and meets the pool of vomit that has already collected around my butt. Vomit starts to drip from the glider onto the floor. I scream some more I think.
7.28 - The hubs comes up. Looks at me. Runs backs out to grabs gobs of paper towels.
7.29 - We put the baby in his tub on the floor. He laughs and thinks he’s playing boat. Surprisingly, there is no throw-up on his clothes. Just on his toes.
7.30 - I peel off my clothes. Of course the day I don’t wear a robe is the day he throws up on me. All over my just-picked-up-from-the-cleaners suit pants which I haven’t worn since month 5 of my pregnancy. Oh, and my newly dry-cleaned sweater. And bra (which was ratty anyway, so that wasn't much of a loss).
7.31 - The hubs and I clean up the carnage as baby enjoy his "boat." The hubs takes my pants and rinses them off.
7.45 - Still cleaning up the carnage.
7.46 - The hubs leaves for work.
7.47 - I change the baby, put on his clothes and leave him in his bouncy seat.
7.51 - Yikes! I’m running really late. I pick out clothes, change with a quickness, and rush to gather my stuff.
7.55 - Really, really late now. I always aim to leave by 7:35 am. I scoop up baby. We trudge downstairs, and I start to buckle him in his car seat.
7.56 - He squirms and yells. I hate getting strapped in! During the struggle, I feel some dampness on his butt. I pick him up and smell his butt. Of course. OF COURSE. Rockstar baby just did a poopie.
7.56.31 - Hm…split-second decision: change him here? Or have daycare change him?
7.57 - Argh!! I can't drop him off daycare all dirty! Mad dash back upstairs to change him. I change his poopie diaper and slightly poo-stained pants.
8.06 - Okay, buckling him up again and we are off! YES! We are officially OUT THE DOOR!
8.09 - We’re moving, we’re driving along. I sing songs to the baby and he makes grumpy babbles in his carseat.
8.13 - Ah! We are at the daycare! I drop him off and do my customary chats with the caregivers.
Caregivers: Good morning!! How are you!
Rockstar Baby: Ba ba ba ba! (He bounces up and down as I pass him to one of the ladies).
Caregiver 1: What time did he eat this morning?
Me: He ate around 7 am. But he threw most of it up. I think he just ate too fast.
Caregiver 2: Aw!! He’s not sick is he?
Me: Nah. He just got too excited. He might gets hungry earlier than usual.
Caregiver 1: No problem.
Caregiver 2: Oh where are his diapers and wipes?
Me: What? He’s out of diapers?
Caregiver 2: Oh we put it on the board than he needs them.
Me: Oh crap! How many diapers does he have left?
Caregiver 2: He has 2 right now. Three wipes left in the box.
Me: Argh! Crappy crap. I guess I have to go back.
Caregiver 1: You don’t have any spare diapers in the car or anything?
Me: No…. er. I’ll be right back.
9.31 - Walk into work. Am late. I hate being late. Oh well. What can I do?
Congratulations to my friend Sol who just became a mom! Welcome to the wonderful world of motherhood!Labels: motherhood, rockstar baby
I Heart Being a Mom
I’ve been reading a few blog entries (as well their respective comments) about some of the hardships of being a parent. Yes, it is hard, but it’s not the end of the world. I don’t have a lot of friends with babies. So most of my friends always tend to ask me “how is it like to be a mom?” or make comments about how they “can’t possibly imagine taking care of kids and handling the stress” or say “I don't know how you do it, but I’m not ready, I’m still selfish” or "I want my sleep" yadda, yadda, yadda. Some friends have even told me "I'm not ready to settle down yet. I still want to go out and explore the world." All these are perfectly valid, normal statements.
I myself how questioned my "readiness" to be a parent. Sure I was scared of the change. But for me, it's never been a issue of missing the party scene, or not being able to do the things I want. I figured, if something was really important to you, you'll find a way to make it happen. . My concern was more of finances and the fact that I act like a kid most of the time (ask the hubs). I have always loved babies; have a lot of experience taking care of kids; and I have never doubted my ability to take care of one.
The thing about being a parent is that once you do become one, your priorities will change, and the way you think will change. So instead of saying “I can’t imagine having a baby" –you just do it and you handle it. Is it hard? Yes, it’s freaking hard, stressful, and nerve-racking, but you’ll get over it. For the first 4 months or so, I thought I would never sleep again and that the baby would be attached to my boob 24/7! Will you miss your old lifestyle? Of course! The last movie I saw in the theater was X-Men 3, and the hubs and I have only gone out on 1 date sans baby. Will your life be more enriched once you become a parent. Absolutely. To me, having kids does not and should not mean your life is over.
The hubs and I have been very lucky with rockstar baby. So lucky that we think he's setting us up! We joke that our second baby will be the polar opposite! Rockstar baby is now 7.5 months old and he’s very low-maintenance. Here’s some tidbits:
- He was never colicky (colic is defined as have crying bouts lasting for 30+ minutes with no reason at all).
- He started sleeping throughout the night at around 4 months old (all it took was putting him down on his tummy, which pediatricians do not advise by the way).
- We put him on a sleep schedule at around 4 months (bathtime at 7 pm, feeding, then snoozing) and he’s been abiding by that ever since --I highly recommend a sleep schedule!
- He can fall asleep on his own when laid down on his crib (after his bath and bottle).
- He can play by himself for long periods of time (we're talking 45 minutes) without pretend-crying for attention. But now we can't leave him alone on the rug because he'll roll across the room. We got him an Exersaucer and he luuurves it!
My only complaint (although it’s not really a complaint) is that he’s a skinny little guy. He's like a string bean as opposed to those chubby Buddha-babies. And recently, he’s been a bit high-maintenance since he picked up a cold at daycare. He's had a perpetual runny nose for the past 3 weeks now. Aw! So he’s been a bit fussier at night and wakes up every now and then because he can't breathe well. Other than though, he’s still such a sweet and easy-going little guy.
The hubs and I still get to do our own little things. We have our respective hobbies (the hubs loves golf, I have my band and still go to shows), we go out with our friends, we spend time with our family, we get our sleep, and we make it work. Right now, I can't even imagine life without my little smoopy smoo (that's my 151st nickname for him). And right now, I can't wait for the next one although I'm sure it'll be double the stress once you have more than 1 kid (and this post will be bullshit)! But I guess babies are like tattoos. Once you get one, you want more! (and I have 6 tats!) Hahaha....kidding, kidding. I know babies are nothing like tattoos --or are they? (Hm...they're painful when you first get it, but once you get through it, you really love it!).
Here's my little guy:
Labels: motherhood, musings/personal stories
Music, Mommyhood and Mohawks --Oh My!
A Rockstar Moment: My band Plastiq Passion played 2 shows within a week. Last Monday, we played at the Iron Monkey in Jersey City, NJ. The Iron Monkey was a very cool venue since we played at their rooftop bar. Tons of Jesica's friends came out (but none of mine! then again I don't expect them to come all the way to JC) and it was packed! We played with our friend Kilsy who is such the rockstar!
At the Iron Monkey - photo by Stacy Moore
And then on Sunday, we played at the Trash Bar in Brooklyn as part of the "Pussy Rock" show --featuring bands with female frontmen and female members. The Trash Bar was another cool venue and I had a blast despite the fact that we got bumped to a midnight slot! (Heck, I didn't get home until 2 am and had to wake up at 6 am because the baby woke up early). I was so sleepy while waiting to go on, but got all energized again once we got on stage. Our set was smooth and I felt we played a very good show. Some guys even came up to me and said "great performance!" Little compliments like that mean a lot to us because they come from perfect strangers and I feel they are genuine. I t's always a plus to hear positive feedback. So if you'd like to give us some feedback, please check out some of our tracks HERE. We are currently working on our EP and these are just the (unmastered) instrumental versions. But please let me know what you think!
We have a very cool gig lined up this coming September 16 as part of the Film Music Fashion & Babes Festival (as well as celebrating the end of FASHION WEEK!!) We hope for a good turn out for this show, so if you are in the area, please stop by!
At Trash Bar with:
Matt - bass; Jes - vocals/guitars; Cil - drums; and Me - guitars/vocals
I Miss My Little Guy: So rockstar baby started daycare last week. On his first day (Aug. 21st), I dropped him off around 9 am and stuck around for only 10 minutes or so. I swear, I felt my heart breaking into a million pieces when I left him, but at least none of us cried. He's a pretty friendly and easy-going guy so when I left him, he was playing away and didn't even miss me! When I picked him up, he was all smiles and gave me a huge grin! Everyone says that daycare is a lot harder on the parents than it is on the child. It's all so true! But I worry so much about him --whether he's napping enough, or getting enough stimulation or eating properly. All these things run through your head! Gah! And how am I supposed to concentrate on work when I start next week?! I suppose you get used to it. At least his daycare gives you a little 'report card' of sorts at the end of the day chronicling how much he ate, when his diapers were changed, how many times he poopied, napped, etc. But it's not the same as being with him! *sniff*
First Day of School
Rockstar Baby got a Mohawk: The hubs decided to shave rockstar baby's head last night. We've been meaning to give him a little trim since his hair got long (again), and we've always talked about giving him a mohawk. So after his dinner (of green beans) last night, we gave him a buzz. Bad mistake since he was really sleepy and cranky. He was just not cooperating as his dad shaved his head. It took us a while to finish this very messy endeavor since he wailed, howled, and was just mad at the world and his mean parents. In the end, his hair sort of looks like a mohawk but we still need to trim the sides and the top. Otherwise, it's not too bad looking. I'm sure it would look even cooler with some hair gel! But no products for him yet!
Frontal View
Side View
Labels: motherhood, music
Happy Half-Birthday to My Rockstar Baby!
I can't believe my little critter is 6 months old already! They were right --babies do grow fast! I can't imagine that he used to be half his size! He used to be such a teeny little thing. Now, he's on his way to becoming a toddler and is already acting like one. *sniff*
Rockstar baby @ 1 Month Old
-Here, he was still in his wrinkly and prune-y stage.
Rockstar baby @ 6 Months Old
-Now, he's filled out and looks all grown up.
Labels: motherhood
Motherhood and other Musings (as always)
D-Day Approaches: D-Day is on August 21 and that’s when rockstar baby starts his daycare program. WAAAHHH! I started looking for a day care center around April and settled on one near our house (so it would central to both the hubs and I). Rockstar baby was supposed to start the same time I went back to work (first week of September), but a spot opened up earlier than expected and we had to take it or lose it. I just know I’m going to cry my eyes out when he starts. Heck, how are people supposed to work all day and not think about their babies?!! At least I’ll have a 2-week ‘grace period’ in the event that I suffer from a nervous breakdown and just have to go check up on him. As they say, it’s actually harder on the parent that it is on the child.
The 'shrieks' come out at night: Here’s rockstar baby in video! He gets shrieky fits and it's so funny. You just say any word and he'll act like you've said the most hilarious thing!
The Yaya Sisterhood: Unlike in the Philippines, having a yaya is not very common here (unless you can afford it). Some bloggers from the Philippines)have talked about how they go here and there with their nannies. I don’t have that kind of luxury and I sometimes think that it would be cool to have someone help you schlep your baby around. I think a nanny would definitely come in handy if you have more than one kid! At the same time though, I like doing things by myself. People always ask if my mom or mom-in-law helped me during the first few months –they didn’t. It was just the hubs and I, and I liked it that way. Having a personal chef and housekeeper on the other hand, would be the new hotness.
The Curse of the Frump! Once they become moms, some women fall victim to ‘the curse of the frump.’ You’ve seen it, I’m sure. Extreme versions include the soccer mom haircut, the unflattering mom jeans or lived-in sweatpants, the haggard-looking face. Milder versions include the tendency to wear the same thing over and over again and forgetting to shower on occasion. I told myself that I wouldn’t be that kind of mom and always look presentable whenever I go out. Well I got the curse for a month or so after giving birth –when you are running on 3 hours of sleep on a non-consecutive basis, putting on lipstick and finding a flattering outfit are just not top priority. Once I got the hang of the ‘new mom’ thing though, I straightened up. But no matter how tired I am, I always have and always will take a shower everyday no fail.
Baby Clothes! One of the many perks of being a mom is buying adorable (yet sometimes atrociously expensive) outfits for your baby. I went to town the other day buying rockstar baby clothes for the fall season. My favorite store for baby clothes is Old Navy, hands down! The outfits are uber-cute, affordable (even when not on sale), and very versatile. This season’s collection even has a ‘Li’l Rockstar’ line! I was in heaven when I saw it! But unfortunately, some shirts I wanted sold out in mere days that they even took it off their website!! They had shirts saying: Mommy is a Rockstar. And I couldn’t even buy it!! Gah! Argh! So I bought other stuff instead, and also bought some outfits from Baby Gap and The Children’s Place. How cute are these?!
The jacket says: I heart rock!
Check out the cute elbow patches on the sweater, and cool kicks!
Here's some pics as well! Enjoy!
Look mom, no hands!
I Heart my rockstar baby...(the guitar is bigger than him!)
P.S. CONGRATULATIONS to my friends Trish and Rol on their new baby Annika!
Labels: motherhood, musings/personal stories
Slice of Life
A typical mid-day in the life of rockstar mom and rockstar baby (although most days, there is only one disaster at a time).
10:15 am – Baby is starting to get snarky. Okay, time to eat.
10:16 am – Feed baby.
10:34 am – Baby pulls away, squiggles and is giggly again. “No more food? Are you full?” He laughs and flashes me a heart-melting toothless grin and I nuzzle his nose. I play horsey with him and bounce him up and down my knee. That’s when I notice that there is poo on my shorts. There. Is. Poo. On. My. Shorts. Fabulous. Rockstar baby has just POOPED on me.
10:35 am – Run upstairs to his room holding baby at arms length. Changing table fiasco. ARGH! Fuck!! #$!*&@#!!! Poo is on the table, the baby’s back, and of course, his clothes. And let's not mention there is poo on my clothes already. Emergency bath! EMERGENCY BATH! But first, where to put baby? Hm…I grab a dirty blanket from his hamper and lay him on the floor.
10:41 am – Run his bath.
10:52 am – Bath time is done. I dry baby, put on new diaper and clothes. I place him in bouncy seat. Time to wash his poop-stained clothes and mine. There is nothing fun about washing poo off baby clothes. Ugh. Note to self: invest in 'washing-poo-off-clothes' gloves.
11:03 am – Check on baby. He is wholly engrossed with his bouncy seat. Hm, shower now while he’s occupied? Think fast! Yes! I quickly jump in the shower.
11:10 am – Shower done. I quickly do my “beauty routine” (moisturize face, lotion up, put on clothes, comb hair and put it in a bun).
11:16 am - Waahhhh!! (Which translates to: “Pay attention to me woman!”) Ah! Precisely on time.
11:17 am – We go downstairs. I play with baby, read him a story, talk to him, cuddle him, and play horsey again. I heart playing with my beautiful, delicious, sweet-smelling, cheery, giggly happy baby boy.
11: 18 am - Stomach growls. Oh so hungry. But I continue to entertain baby. Stomach growls some more.
11:49 am – Put baby on his playmat. Turn on laptop and surf for a bit.
11:55 am – Waaah! Pick up baby. I bounce him around and entertain him. “Oh look, it’s Mr. Froggy. Hello! Say hello Mr. Froggy!”
11:56 am – Rockstar baby is not having any of it. He squirms around, arches his back, and yells.
11:57 am – “Are you hungry?” Waaah! (This translates to: “Yes of course I’m hungry, can’t you tell?!”)
11:58 am – Yes. He is hungry. I feed him.
12:24 pm – Rockstar baby is falling asleep! Finally! Eyes closing, eyes closing…yes! He is asleep. Hm…should pull out nipple? Or wait? Damn. Stomach growling. Okay, I decide to pull out his bottle. Slowly, slowly…yes! He stays asleep! Putting him down, putting him down, and yes! HE STAYS ASLEEP! Halleluia!!
12:26 pm – Go to kitchen for food, glorious food! (There is actually food in the fridge since I cooked dinner last night --super-easy salmon croquettes, I simply have to post the recipe at some point). Walk to toaster oven to pre-heat, and ARGH!!! Water, water everywhere! Fuck!! #!%$&*!! There is a major puddle of water on the floor!!
12:27 pm - I'm still screaming in my head. Where the fuck did it come from? GAH! A jug of water on my kitchen shelf has a hole in it! There is only 1/4 of water left in the jug. There is ¾ gallon water on my kitchen floor! Damn. I just want to freaking eat! Look for rag, none…shite. Go to basement, grab mop, and I mop away. Stop. Put salmon croquettes in toaster oven. Go back to mopping. And wiping with paper towels.
12:52 pm – Am finally done mopping. I can eat lunch! Put rice in microwave. Hear my phone ring. Brrring, bbrrring!! Shite! SHITE!!! (Note: I say 'shite' in a British accent in my head). Phone is near baby! I run before he wakes up. GAH! Too freaking late. Baby looks up at me and I freeze. If I stay quiet, maybe he won’t notice me. Hold breath. Nope, baby is looking around. With a quickness, I rush over to him. Am patting him, patting him, patting him. He goes back to sleep. Success!
12:57 pm – Put food on plate and I eat. Food. GLORIOUS FOOD! Gobble, gobble, gobble.
1:07 pm – Ok. Am happy. Well, more like I’m full so I’m ready to take on another round of rockstar baby. Hm, little guy is still asleep. What to do? I should wash the dishes, yeah, that’s it. Or clean the bedroom? Yeah, let’s check e-mail.
1:41 pm – Ah shites! Have not done a single chore. Ok, will do dishes now.
1:43 pm – Washing dishes.
1:44 pm – Waaah!! (This means: “I’m awake!! Why weren’t you here by my side when I woke up?! Entertain me! Chop-chop!”) Of course rockstar baby wakes up. OF COURSE.
Gratuitous pics of rockstar baby:
I didn't do it! (check out the Wolverine-like hair)
Chomp-chomp!
Me and my yummy baby
Me and my adorable baby whose current hobby is biting his lip
Labels: motherhood
